Grujica Andrić, BBC journalist
Short hair, thick, black beard and a large, traditional, woolen hat dwarf.
These have been symbols of the American martial arts promotion UFC for years, but they originate from distant Dagestan, a Caucasian republic in southwestern Russia, where mixed martial arts (MMA) champions have been coming for years.
That world is now ruled by Islam Mahachev, a champion in two categories and officially the best fighter in the world's most popular fighting organization, counting all categories.
In more than a decade in the UFC, Makhachev has lost only one fight, even though he has entered the octagon, which is to MMA what the ring is to boxers, 29 times.
He replaced his gloves with a suit and visited Serbia, where he met with President Aleksandar Vučić.
"This is by far the most popular and strongest man I have ever received," Vučić announced on Instagram.
They discussed "the importance of sport as the foundation of a healthy society and the role that top athletes play in motivating young people to develop discipline, responsibility and perseverance," he added.
Mahachev is staying in Serbia for two days, it was announced.
He is discussing "plans for the further development and promotion of boxing and MMA sports" and "future projects and collaborations" with Serbian officials. the Boxing Federation of Serbia announced on Instagram.
They gave no further details.
In previous months, Vučić met with world stars in Belgrade, such as actor Jackie Chan and Usain Bolt, one of the best athletes of all time, who became promoters. Expo exhibition, which Serbia will organize in 2027.
It was in public criticism about the alleged price which Serbia pays to famous world figures for promotion, although it has not been announced whether Bolt and Chan were paid for their services and what the amount is.
It is not known whether Makhachev will also be a promoter of this international exhibition, nor whether his visit was paid for in any way.
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'Two, three years in Dagestan': How a champion is built
Wrestlers from Dagestan, many MMA fans claim, are made of different material.
Dozens of them have competed in the UFC, and athletes like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Magomed Ankalaev, Usman Nurmagomedov, Rustam Kabilov, and Makhachev have left a big mark and won championship belts.
Makhachev followed the path previously taken by Khabib Nurmagomedov, his coach, friend from Dagestan, and one of the greatest UFC legends.
Many see him as a successor, which is why he was called the "new Khabib" at the beginning of his career.
"If someone says I'm the same as Habib, I'll accept it."
"I want to be like Khabib, he's a great man," Makhachev commented.
Nurmagomedov is considered by many to be the greatest fighter in UFC history, as he is undefeated after 29 fights in the lightweight division - which Makhachev also competes in.
Nurmagedov retired as champion.
He was so dominant that even during sparring in training, he never lost - not even a round, claimed Javier Mendez, Khabib's former trainer.
"Islam is the only one who managed to beat Khabib in one round," Mendez said.
Both come from Dagestan, a region in the northern Caucasus and the western coast of the Caspian Sea, on Russia's border with Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Many have now learned that the best wrestlers in the world are raised there, as Makhachev explained in an interview with Daniel Cormier, a former American MMA fighter.
"If you want your son to become a top wrestler, send him to Dagestan for two or three years and forget about him," Islam said briefly on hard English.
So, what is the secret of this Dagestan?
In the vast experience of street fighting, as young men in this part of Russia often fight "out of desperation from a young age," explained Mikhail Lyubimov, a trainer who has worked with Dagestani fighters, including Nurmagomedov.
"So where they're from, there's absolutely nothing. By the time they get to America, they've already been through 200 fights and stuff."
"They have no other option. There are 'cauliflower ears' (characteristic of MMA fighters) everywhere."
"It's in their culture, deeply ingrained in them," he told the American television channel CNN.
On faith, training and abstinence
What distinguishes fighters from the northern slopes of the Caucasus from others in the UFC is their wrestling skills.
Of his 28 victories in that competition, only three were by knockout, while the rest were won based on judges' scores and, above all, by incapacitating his rivals with skillful leverage.
If you don't surrender yourself because you can't breathe or are afraid that your arm or leg will be broken, the referees will stop the match themselves to prevent that from happening.
Makhachev, like other Dagestani fighters, is also distinguished by his behavior outside the octagon.
Weigh-ins and press conferences ahead of UFC matches are often bigger spectacles than the fights, and they often involve fighters calling each other names, insults, and even physical confrontations without gloves.
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Makhachev rarely gets into verbal arguments with opponents.
Before his belt fights in previous years against Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski, or Dustin Poirier, he generally stated that he "respected" them as "legends" of the sport and "tough guys."
Like most fighters from Dagestan, Makhachev is a devout Muslim, something he has spoken about many times, and coach Mikhail Lyubimov considers this to be their great advantage.
They generally don't drink, don't go out, but focus on developing their own skills, he added.
"They live in the middle of nowhere in the mountains. All they have left is to fight," he concluded.
This is what Makhachev talked about when he was asked what life is like at Khabib Nurmagomedov's training camp in the Dagestan mountains.
"I eat, sleep and train," Islam replied with a smile.
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Personal card: Islam Mahachev
- He was born on October 27, 1991, in Makhachkala, the largest city in Dagestan, but grew up in the village of Burshi in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains;
- Growing up, he trained in several martial arts, such as taekwondo, samba, and wrestling, and later switched to MMA (mixed martial arts), where his coach was Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, father of UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov;
- He has been competing professionally in martial arts since 2010, is a multiple Russian champion in the martial art of sambo, and in 2016 he became the world champion;
- He has been a professional MMA fighter since 2011, and in 2014 he began competing under the UFC promotion, the most famous MMA organization in the world;
- He made his UFC debut in May 2015 and has entered the octagon 29 times so far, only losing once, in his second match, in October of the same year;
- He is the current UFC welterweight champion (up to 77 kilograms), and was previously the lightweight champion (up to 70 kilograms) from 2022 to 2025. Although he is no longer formally the champion in that category, as he has moved to compete in another, Makhachev has not lost the belt since winning it in the octagon;
- He has 16 consecutive victories in his home lightweight competition (up to 70 kilograms), which is the longest streak in the history of the UFC promotion;
- According to the rankings published by the UFC, he is the best fighter in that promotion, counting all categories (pounds for pounds).
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